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Birkhill Fireclay Mine

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Fire Clay Mine (19th Century) - (20th Century)

Site Name Birkhill Fireclay Mine

Classification Fire Clay Mine (19th Century) - (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Birkhill Station, Mine; Avon Gorge; Upper Kinneil

Canmore ID 47866

Site Number NS97NE 83

NGR NS 9650 7896

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/47866

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

View looking S of former Mine Manager's Cottage.
View looking S of former Mine Manager's Cottage.View of Signal Box (now private residence).Mine Surface Building. View looking NE of haulage area and pan house.Mine Surface Buildings. Loading Bay showing base of hoppers above from clay refining area.Detail of wagon used to move the clay from underground to the survce buildings.Interior. Pan House from 1950s. View of pan mill. Clay visible in the foreground.Oblique aerial view centred on the mine, taken from the SW.Oblique aerial view centred on the mine, taken from the SE.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building. View from south of mobile 'Fawcett' (Thomas C. Fawcett of Leeds) screw feed from crusher to Incla Pan Mill. This would be moved under the crusher rollers and the rotating screw would move the clay forward to the pan mill rollers.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building. Looking into crusher from mezzannine level. The movable clay screw device would feed the crushed material into the Pan Mill below, and to the south.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building. Looking into crusher from mezzannine level with tippler which allowed clay from the distribution area to be introduced into the crusher chute. The movable 'Fawcett' clay moving screw device would feed the crushed material into the Pan Mill below and to the south. The tub in this instance is the wrong way round for feeding clay into the chute.Interior. Clay Distribution area. View from south of 'Old' Pan Mill clay chute and tub tippler. The clay would arrive by tub at the top of the incline, the tub would be man-handled to the turntable and the tub contents were then tipped into the chute. The crusher rolls are just visible.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building, screen. These screens sieved the processed clay dust after initial crushing and milling. The clay dust would then fall onto a conveyor where the clay would be conveyed to the Hopper area (see DP111692-5)Interior. Mine No 3. View of undergound chamber where the fire clay has been mined. On the table is an array of fossilised plant material that can be handled by vistors to the mine.Mine Surface Buildings. Distribution. Incline Plane looking N. The obstruction in the foreground does nopt appear to function as a safety mechanism for stopping run away haulage wagons. The rail has been re-laid and is not in its original position according to the site manager on the date of visit.Mine Surface Buildings. Looking NW towards the former wages building and office (now toilets)Haulage and Winding. View looking N towards balance wheel.Detail of door to magazine.Interior. View in 1950's pan mill, bucket elevator on right.Interior. View of upper level in 1950's pan mill building.Oblique aerial view centred on the mine, taken from the SE.Digital copy of Drawing 'Birkhill Clay Mine Surface Buildings: Upper level planDigital copy of Drawing 'Birkhill Clay Mine Surface Buildings: North and West ElevationsInterior. 'New' Pan Mill building. View from north of Pan Mill. This is an 'Incla' dry grinding, or pan, mill. Versions of these are still made by Craven Fawcett. Modern examples have 5, 6 , 10 tonne grinding rollers depending on the finess required.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building. Looking into crusher from mezzannine level with tippler which allowed clay from the distribution area to be introduced into the crusher chute from the tub. The movable 'Fawcett' clay moving screw device would feed the crushed material into the Pan Mill below and to the south.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building. Looking into crusher from mezzannine level with tippler which allowed clay from the distribution area to be introduced into the crusher chute. The movable 'Fawcett' clay moving screw device would feed the crushed material into the Pan Mill below and to the south. The tub in this instance is the wrong way round for feeding clay into the chute.Interior. Clay Distribution area. View from south east, top of incline, showing turntables and the empty wagon back up rails (right).Interior. Hopper area. Processed and screened clay dust was depostied into the hopper to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry. The conveyor from the 'new' Pan Mill has been inserted through the wall. Hopper 2 can be seen beyond the brick partition wall. This Hopper area dates from the first phase of the site and prior to the building of the 'new' Pan Mill.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill, screen. These drum screens sieved the processed clay dust after initial crushing and milling. The clay dust would then fall onto a conveyor where the clay would be conveyed to the Hopper area (see DP111692-5)View from west of mine incline pulley wheels. These were part of the mechaism that hauled the clay from the mine upto the clay distribution area, whence it was sent for milling and screening.Birkhill, fire clay mine. Scan of measured survey drawing (1 of 2), ground plan of processing plant.Interior. Mine No 3. Original cast iron rotor blade for ventilation equipment. The ventilation shaft is off to the right of the picture.Interior. Mine No 3. View of ceiling of chamber showing perciussion marks where the explosives have blown depressions into the fireclay.Mine Surface Buildings. Distribution and Haulage. View looking S showing haulage gantry background and run of mine wagon rail gantry.Mine Surface Buildings. Loading Bay at NS9649 7895.Winding and Haulage. View of gear wheel, part of winding mechanism indirect drive to pan mill crusher adjacent.Winding and Haulage. Detail of gear wheel, part of winding mechanism indirect drive to pan mill crusher adjacent.Mine Surface Buildings. Clay preparation, tipping area into former car hall.Oblique aerial view centred on the mine, taken from the SSE.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building. View from east of mobile screw feed from crusher to Incla Pan Mill. This would be moved under the crusher rollers and the rotating screw would move the clay forward to the pan mill rollers.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building, mezzannine floor. View looking down into Pan Mill gearing from crusher feed level.Interior. Clay Distribution area. View from north of gantry area accessing screen from 'Old' Pan Mill. the Hoppers containing the dried and milled clay are below this area.Interior. Clay Distribution area. View from west of turntable at the top of the incline and the 'Old' Pan Mill clay chute.Interior. Area above Hopper 1. Processed and screened clay dust was deposited into the hopper to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry from both the 'old' and 'new' Pan Mills. The screen of the 'old' Pan Mill can be glimpsed on the extreme right and awooden walkway framework to allow access to the screen.Interior. Area above Hopper 1 and 'Old' Pan Mill screen. Processed and screened clay dust was deposited into the hopper to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry from both the 'old' and 'new' Pan Mills.The ramp would have carried the screen dust to the hopper below. Clay which did not go through the screen would be fed from the screen drum to the return chute to be milled again in the dry pan mill.Interior. Hopper area, Hopper 1. Processed and screened clay dust was deposited to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry. There wer 9 chutes altogether which were opened and closed using levers below in the undercroft.Interior. Mine No 3. Detail of fossilised tree in ceiling of adit.Interior. Mine No 3. Black banding in freclay. This material is hard and becomes run of mine material which is dumped as waste.Incline Plane. View of an example incline plane guide roller at NS9636 7906. The inlcine plane then approaches No 3 Mine and crosses the River Avon.View looking W of original signal box, now part of private dwelling.View looking W of possible magazine, although the proximity to other buildings suggests that it may not have been used for that function.Mine Surface Buildings. View of former wages offices, now used as toilets.Winding and Haulage. View of winding/haulage mechanism at NS9648 7895.View of magazine.Interior. Pan House from 1950s. View of pan mill on right, worm feeder in background.Oblique aerial view centred on the mine, taken from the SSW.Digital copy of Drawing 'Birkhill Clay Mine Surface Buildings: Ground level planCopy of image: workforce at Birkhill c.1930Interior. Hopper area, Hopper 1. Processed and screened clay dust was deposited to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry. There wer 9 chutes altogether which were opened and closed using levers below in the undercroft.Incline Plane. View as it descends towards Mine No 3 and the bridge which crosses the River Avon.View looking N of former Blacksmith's cottage (foreground) and Manager's Office (background). Now private dwelling.Mine Surface Buildings. View looking S towards loading bays, pan house and distribution area.Mine Surface Buildings. Electricity sub-station looking SW.Mine Surface Buildings. View looking S towards loading bay and distribution area (top floor amd extraeme right) with pan mill to right.Mine Surface Buildings. Distribution and Haulage. View looking E showing haulage gantry background and run of mine wagon rail gantryWinding and Haulage. View of winding/haulage mechanism back balance wheel.Interior. View of loading bay. Note levers for opening hoppers to have clay into wagons.Interior. View in 1950s pan mill building looking into pan mill.Digital copy of Drawing 'Birkhill Clay Mine Surface Buildings: Roof planInterior. Clay Distribution area. Couplings originally from the mine.Interior. Clay Distribution area. View from south east, tub back up area. The tub rope star wheel disengament teeth are visible in the middle of the picture.This system of tub rope control and handling was unique to this site.Interior. Area above Hopper 1. Processed and screened clay dust was deposited into the hopper to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry from both the 'old' and 'new' Pan Mills. The screen of the 'old' Pan Mill can be glimpsed on the extreme right and awooden walkway framework to allow access to the screen.Interior. Hopper area, Hopper 1. Processed and screened clay dust was deposited to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry. There wer 9 chutes altogether which were opened and closed using levers below in the undercroft.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill, screen. These screens sieved the processed clay dust after initial crushing and milling. The clay dust would then fall onto a conveyor where the clay would be conveyed to the Hopper (see DP111692-5)Interior. Original engine room, latterly workshop for the Trust and then, the Council. These two vertical Cochran (Cochrane and Co., Annan) boilers were saved (?from a bakery) by the Birkhill Trust in the 1990s. The 'Old' Pan Mill is on the other side of the wall against which the boilers are sitting.Birkhill, fire clay mine. Scan of measured survey drawing (1 of 2), upper plan of processing plant.Bridge over River Avon. View taken from S side of the river looking NE towards foot of incline and entrance to No 1 MineInterior. Mine No.3 underground entrance adit. Props can se seen in the background.Incline Plane. Detail view haulage rope-guide capstans at NS 9635 7906.Incline Plane looking S towards the main Mine Surface Buildings.View looking SE of former Manager's Cottage (foreground) and former Blacksmith's cottage (background). Now private dwelling.View looking SE of former Mine Manager's Cottage (foreground) and former Blacksmith's cottage (background). Now private dwelling.Mine Surface Buildings. View looking towards haulage and winding area with distribution area above.Mine Surface Buildings. View looking N towards building housing crusher, work feeder, pan mill and bucket conveyor.Oblique aerial view centred on the mine, taken from the S.Interior. 'New' Pan Mill building. Detail view from south of mobile 'Fawcett' (Thomas C. Fawcett of Leeds) screw feed from crusher to Incla Pan Mill. This would be moved under the crusher rollers and the rotating screw would move the clay forward to the pan mill rollers.Interior. Clay Distribution area. View from east. The top of the incline is visible in the bqckgeound along with the brick crusher (left) and the chute to the 'Old' Pan Mill (centre). The hole int he floor visible in the foreground appears to allow access to the pan mill machinery below.Interior. Area above Hopper 1 and 'Old' Pan Mill screen. Processed and screened clay dust was deposited into the hopper to await dispatch by (latterly) lorry from both the 'old' and 'new' Pan Mills.The ramp would have carried the screen dust to the hopper below. Clay which did not go through the screen would be fed from the screen drum to the return chute to be milled again in the dry pan mill.View from north of Hopper no.1 undercroft. Note the levers which oped up the hopper compartment to allow the clay dust to fall into railway wagons or (latterly) ?lorries at the south end.Interior. Mine No 3. View of museum exhibit with wagon and partial rail layout.Interior. Mine No 3. Ventilation shaft (NS96384 79156). Cast iron original rotor blade on the left of the image.Incline Plane. View from bridge over River Avon looking SW towards entrance of Mine No 3.Incline Plane. View looking N of haulage rope-guide capstans at NS 9635 7906.Incline Plane. Example of the remains of the underground Safety Bell alarm system which ran alongside the Incline Plane and upto the main Mine Surface Buildings.Mine No 1 entrance to adit to N side of incline plane at NS 96418 79039Mine Surface Buildings. Loading Bay.Mine Surface Buildings. Loading Bay looking N.Interior. Electricity sib-station. Controls.Interior. View looking towards the fly wheel of the pan house crusher in background. This area is now used as a work shop/storage area by the musuem. The Boiler on the right is from another site.Interior. View of 1950's pan mill looking into the crusher.

First 100 images shown. See the Collections panel (below) for a link to all digital images.

Administrative Areas

  • Council Falkirk
  • Parish Bo'ness And Carriden
  • Former Region Central
  • Former District Falkirk
  • Former County West Lothian

Archaeology Notes

NS97NE 83 964 789

For adjacent Birkhill Station (on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Rly), see NS97NE 159.00.

Preserved 1990; approached from Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway. Buildings at NS 9630 7901 and 9649 7895; tramway between.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM) 17 July 1990.

Extensive pillar and stall workings on the bank of the river Avon, abandoned 1981. There are three mines: mine no.1 is on the E bank of the river with two entrances. mine no.2 lies on thre top pf the river bank amongst the clay processing buildings and mine no.3 lies on the W bank of the river.

Grampian Speleological Group (2008)

Further Details

Activities

Reference (2008)

Extensive pillar and stall workings on the bank of the river Avon, abandoned 1981. There are three mines: mine no.1 is on the E bank of the river with two entrances. mine no.2 lies on thre top pf the river bank amongst the clay processing buildings and mine no.3 lies on the W bank of the river.

Grampian Speleological Group 2008

Further Details

Laser Scanning (18 January 2011 - 4 April 2011)

A laser scan survey was carried out on the Birkhill Fireclay Mine Processing Buildings and incline plane by RCAHMS in 2011.

Further Details

Field Visit (2011)

A survey was carried out on the Birkhill Fireclay Mine Processing Buildings by RCAHMS, the forerunner of HES (Survey and Recording). A photographic and drawn surey were undertaken in 2011.

Information from HES (Survey and Recording, Architecture and Industry), M McDonald, June 2016.

Further Details

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